Technical Info & How To's

(I am not very active on here but I am on **** and I shared this to SSA at the request of Denim) First off, I want to be clear about one thing. I'm not here to hate on SMD tools. However I am here to help people utilize cheaper and sometimes better equipment suited for the job as well as other jobs. So let's begin with the dd-1. I'm sure most of you know the main competitor to this an oscilloscope. But you might not know why. The SMD dd-1 is 149.99A Velleman HPS140I oscilliscope is 120$ (from Amazon) Here are three ways that the oscope stands alone from the dd-1. The dd-1 does not account for voltage drop. Let's say you set your gain with the dd-1 at 14.4 volts…

The Big 3 Are: 1. negative battery wire to ground - just replace the negative batt. terminal and wire and ground it to the factory location 2. engine block to ground - replace the ground wire from the engine block to the chasie with a bigger wire (maybe 4 guage) 3. alternator to batt - add a fused wire from the postive post on you alternator (the one comming from the battery) to the postive terminal on your battery. DO NOT exchange wires just add a extra one. make sure it fused the same size as your factory fuse. hope thats helps Note on #2- Some cars have a batt-engine block connection stead of chassis to engine block...

I love Iron Laws. Why? Well, they are so succinctly and aptly named: they are infact, iron. Good luck breaking them! If you've been a browsing member of the online audio community for a while, you have no doubt heard about Hoffman's Iron Law. What's it all about? Well, it is quite simple. Forgive me if I am misquoting here, but I think JimJ put it best when he said: "You can have low end extension, high efficiency, or small enclosure size. Pick two." Please note that while many people use this statement related to enclosures, it applies to the speaker you're using as well So what does that mean? And why is that the case? Well, as you may have heard me say once …

Here you go guys let me know what you think! What is Google Sketchup? Sketchup is a free 3d modeling program that is made by Google. It is used around the world for its ease of use and accurate function. Where do I get it? Right here: http://sketchup.google.com/download/ Download the basic version. What is the advantage? You can basically "build" your box before you make a single cut! Get an idea what it will look like, even lay out all the boards to make sure you get the most use out of a sheet! How do I use it? Watch my video below! If there is any additional information or questions please let me know!

http://www.monsterca...tor_Article.pdf DAMPING FACTOR By Richard Clark At a recent AUTOSOUND 2000 manufacturer sponsored seminar, we were asked to comment on the subject of amplifier damping factor. I was extremely surprised to find how much importance was attached to this single specification. Since most folks are a little unclear as to the true meaning of damping factor, we're presenting the following article. First of all, let's discuss the items that enter into the damping factor calculation. At the heart of this calculation is the output impedance of the amplifier. Most all-modern feedback type amps are of the variety known as constant voltage. This means that the…

Disclaimer The first thing I must make abundantly clear is that, though I feel all information listed below is highly accurate, it is possible I am wrong in certain areas. Let’s face it: I’m human. Though the concepts are well understood, much of what I discuss is my interpretation and opinion on a given set of circumstances. I come into this with absolutely zero bias and I feel that gives this more validity than other comparisons of a similar nature that you may have read. Above all, please read in the interest of gaining another viewpoint. Table of Contents 1.0 - Prelude 2.0 - Split-Gap 3.0 - LMT (Linear Motor Technology) 4.0 - Split Coil 5.0 - Efficiency/Flux Effic…

Something I found and is worth having here: A: A: Attenuation, loss of dB. AC (Alternating Current): An electrical current that periodically changes in magnitude and direction. Acoustic Fiberglass: Thin fiberglass material used as damping material inside speaker enclosures. Acoustics: The science or study of sound. Air Gap: The space between the top plate and the pole piece. This is where the voice coil sits. Alignment: A class of enclosure parameters that provides optimum performance for a woofer with a given value of Q. Alpha: In sealed enclosure designs, the ratio of Vas to Vb, where Vb is the volume of the box you will build. Alternator: A device that is turned by a m…

This is a routinely asked question: "How long does the vent tube need to be if I use an n" flared port?" Granted, there are a few calculators out there that will calculate this for you, particularly if you're using some of the widely available manufactured ports. Here's a good example of a calculator available to you: http://psp-inc.com/psp-inc.com/public_html..._calculator.cgi But what if you have hand-formed your flared ends? Better yet, let's assume you are a dork like me and prefer to hand calculate a lot of things (believe it or not, the extra effort is worthwhile in the long run, but that's a rant for another day). Without getting too into depth on the actual der…

Crest Factor Before we can discuss amplifier headroom, we first need to discuss the music we are listening to. And the concept we need to understand is that of crest factor. Sine waves are the simplest tone. Sine waves are the "test tones" that many people use in this hobby for various reasons, although most likely familiar to everyone as the source used in the typical SPL competition. Sine waves are a periodic waveform. That is, these sine waves or test tones are quite simply a repeating waveform with equal intervals and amplitude in time. Music, in contrast, is very dynamic and transient. Music is a nonperiodic wave form. Meaning music is composed of sounds that frequ…

This is always an interesting and controversial topic. Every couple of weeks, a debate rages regarding the relevance of high Xmax and whether it is truly valuable to achieving SPL scores. Perhaps the greatest argument is that Digital Designs Audio drivers, who have a very impressive track record in SPL competition, have been routinely tested to show below average Xmax numbers. How is it possible that a driver with limited linear excursion can still be amongst the loudest? The answer is simple and complex all at once: Xmax is relevant to SPL and it's not. Now that I've confused you, let's proceed. I'll touch on how a speaker makes sound and how it's interpreted at a …

Please note that any open-ended questions are best addressed in the Advanced Discussion portion of the forum. The Technical Info & How To's sub-forum is best suited for articles or time-tested and accurate threads filled with critical information. If a thread from the Advanced Discussion forum happens to prove itself as an integral part of the SSA knowledge base, it will be moved to the Technical Info & How To's forum as a whole, or parsed if necessary. Should any questions arise about this procedure, feel free to send myself or any SSA Tech Team member a pm for further clarification. In summary, we appreciate and encourage any and all questions be asked, but p…

Prior to 1970, there were no easy or affordable methods accepted as standard in the industry for obtaining comparative data about loudspeaker performance. Recognized laboratory tests were expensive and unrealistic for the thousands of individuals needing performance information. Standard measurement criteria were required to enable manufacturers to publish consistent data for customers to make comparisons between various loudspeakers. Thiele-Small Parameters In the early seventies, several technical papers were presented to the AES (Audio Engineering Society) that resulted in the development of what we know today as 'Thiele-Small Parameters'. These papers were authored …

I get a lot of PM's with comments that go like this... "I'd like to be in the upper 13's or even 14's full tilt", & hoping for that with one, maybe two alternators on 12,000 watts of power." There are two main sources of power in your system. One is the alternator, which is around 14.5 volts, & the other is the battery, which is 12.8-13.3 at best. So basically two voltage levels, 13.0 & 14.5,... & a very, very small gray area in-between those two numbers. The higher voltage source is the one producing ALL the current until the voltage drops to the next highest source, then that one will start helping. That's why you see voltage go fr…

So I’m getting pretty sick of free handing all my boxes, jigsawing and using screws, my question is what size table saw does a guy need to do basic boxes; like max 24” cuts. Also, what kind of nailer and gauge nails do I use to replace screws? bonus tip* routers? Which one is a good buy to do cutouts and round overs? Thanks ALOT!

Hello Community , I purchased a supposedly new sub today on Craigslist , turns out it is blown. So I’m left with one heck of a lesson and a hefty paperweight. I would like to salvage this speaker if possible but I cannot find a voice coil anywhere online. Im hoping that in all of your grand knowledge and experience you might be able to point me in the right direction , thank you for your time. Vik R

Hi all A big request to those who have the Clarion HX-D1 in free access: take a picture, please, if there is a possibility of the internal structure of the head and its front panel on the inside. And if anyone has a removed front panel board, and it is possible to make a photo of it from two sides, it will be great at all !!! Thanks for attention!)

I recently purchased a SSA Evil 18in sub, and a 3k rms amp. my first ever real set up so im pretty new to car audio. but i have a question and in need of advice. when i turn up the volume it almost sounds like the subwoofer is bottoming out or making a clicking noise. is this normal or do i need to lower the power on it. or is there more to it than just that?

I have three identical amps and am using the ins/outs to pass thru the signal-- how do i guarantee my 3rd amp in the line has the same input voltage as the 1st?

Subwoofer placement in a trunked vehicle Now, you have two good, and two "OK" options: Good 1. Install the subwoofer in the rear side panel (or in between the taillights and the strut tower). This is called corner loading. Since the subwoofer is as far back as possible in the vehicle, there will be no rear sound wave that can interfere. As well, you will have hard boundaries to the rear, and sides. 2. Install the subwoofer in an enclosure facing the very rear of the vehicle. Optimally, within a foot. This allows for the rear wave to exit through into the cabin of the vehicle, as well as the front wave to reflect off of the rear of the vehicle, and be reinforced by the r…

DSO Nanov3 Oscilliscope Has anyone used this unit.. or something similiar was talking to aaron and have decided to get this but am trying to get some help on how to use it and such.. ive googled and what not and I see the hook this up to that. but haven't seen any ok set the unit to this then that now do this.

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I have 2 SSa Evil 15s with 4 Stiff Spiders on 2 Crescendo BC5500s in a Hyundai Accent Hatchback Will this 4th Order Wall Design Work? Sealed chamber 3.25 Cubic Feet After Displacement Ported Chamber 6.25 Cubic Feet After Displacement Port 6"wx14"Hx10.25"D Tuned to 45hz (84 Cubic Inch Port Area) Thank you in advance

I have 2 SSA Evil D2 15s with Fresh Recones. The Recones have 4 Stiff Spiders instead of the normal 3 the Evils come with. I am currently running them on 1 Crescendo BC5500 with plans for 2 - BC5500s My box is 10.13312 Cubic Feet inside after all displacement. The port inside dimensions are 4.5" wide X 9.25" high X 9.375: deep I came up with that the box is tuned to 27.5hz Is this box good or should there be changes. Please give me any help and or input. It is in a hatchback B Pillar Wall I appreciate all input Thanks in advance

Running 4 Fi audio ssd 18s at the moment and now I'm trying to decide and get ideas if possible to run 6 or 8 in my 99 tahoe. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Im sure most of you know the trunks in these cars are terrible for bass. Looking for some ideas on what i can do. I have sound deadener on the trunk lid an sides and a little bit behind the back seat. I don't wanna cut out the top of the back deck supposedly doesn't gain much. was wondering if cutting the metal out behind the back seat helps at all? BTW im running 2 xcon 15s with a crescendo 3500